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Puerto Montt is the crossroads, not the destination
Almost everything worth the trip lies outside the city: Lake Llanquihue, Chiloé, the Carretera Austral. Puerto Montt is where you choose which of the three comes next, so arrive with the next leg already sorted.
The fastest way in is by plane. El Tepual airport gets several daily flights from Santiago on three airlines, and also flights to Punta Arenas, Balmaceda and Puerto Natales.
From the airport, to Puerto Montt or straight to Puerto Varas
The airport bus drops you at the bus terminal, not at the plaza. If your plan is in Puerto Varas, a shared transfer goes to its plaza without passing through Puerto Montt, so there is no need to go down into the city only to come back up.
The terminal is big and holds almost everything: dozens of companies, destinations all over Chile and departures for Chiloé and the Carretera Austral. Opposite it is the Juan Pablo II Historical Museum (MuPA), with the history of the city, German immigration and the Monte Verde archaeological site. It is good for a while as you wait for your connection.
The train to Puerto Varas does not run at weekends
The train links Puerto Montt with Alerce and Puerto Varas, but only Monday to Friday. There is no service on Saturday or Sunday, and the station (La Paloma) is not next to the bus terminal but on Cuarta Terraza. If your transfer day falls on a weekend, count on the bus or the transfer.
Heading further south
To Chiloé you go by bus from the terminal, with the Chacao channel crossing included in the ticket. To the Carretera Austral there are two ways by sea: the ferry to Chaitén from Angelmó, which almost always sails at night, and the route through Hornopirén with its two ferries. A single ship runs the Chaitén route and weather cancels it, so do not build tight connections after it.
From Castro there is also a ferry to Chaitén, but with only one sailing a week. Miss it and you lose a week.
For those in no hurry, Skorpios runs cruises through the channels in season, and there is a route to Puerto Natales with only two sailings in the season. These are quoted directly with the shipping line.
One night is enough
Angelmó and the waterfront take an afternoon. If you have a spare day, Alerce Andino is close to the city: the park is bought online before you go, pets and fire are not allowed, and the long trails to the lagoons are closed, so count on the short ones only. The best time is November to March, though rain here is normal and cancels nothing.
The place
Facts
- Established
- 1853
- Area
- 50.95 km²
- Where it is
- Puerto Montt
- Official site
- puertomontt.cl
- Full entry
- Puerto Montt
Source: wikidata.org · Checked on November 1, 2026
When to go
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Best time
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Rainfall
- 88 mm
What the route costs
Prices checked on Oct 5, 2026. They may contain errors, so confirm them at the source before you pay.
- Puerto Montt - Chaitén ferry
Open From Angelmó 2187: Monday 12:00; Wednesday and Saturday 23:00; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 23:00 (subsidised). From Chaitén: Monday 01:00 and 23:00; Wednesday to Saturday 11:00.
Foot passenger, per leg and one way only. On subsidised sailings (marked Subv.) the full foot-passenger fare costs CLP 19,200 and there is a stop at Ayacara. Boarding fee not included.
A small vehicle pays from CLP 168,000 and a bicycle from CLP 30,000 per leg. Vehicle dimensions must be exact when booking or the difference is charged.
Unconfirmed at the source
from CLP 35,000Non-residents CLP 43,300
- Castro - Chaitén ferry
Open Only one sailing per week: leaves Castro on Sundays at 17:00 and Chaitén on Sundays at 09:00.
Foot passenger, one way only. A small vehicle pays from CLP 162,800 for Chileans and CLP 203,500 for foreigners. Boarding fee not included.
You must report to the pier two hours before departure.
Unconfirmed at the source
from CLP 33,000Non-residents CLP 41,250
- Shared transfer from the airport to Puerto Varas
Open Every day, 06:00 to 22:00 (daytime rate).
To the Puerto Varas plaza, per person. To an address in Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt, CLP 10,000. At night, 22:01 to 05:59, CLP 8,000 and CLP 12,000.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 6,000
- Hornopirén - Caleta Gonzalo ferry
Open One trip daily: Hornopirén to Leptepu 10:30 (12:30 in January and February), short overland leg and ship to Caleta Gonzalo 15:00 (17:00).
Foot passenger or cyclist per leg, on the subsidised route. A car or pickup pays CLP 35,400 and a motorbike CLP 8,900. On the commercial route, the passenger pays CLP 9,000.
Bought online with Webpay.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 5,900
- Airport to bus terminal bus
Open Every day, 06:00 to 22:00.
One leg, El Tepual airport to the bus terminal, or the reverse. At night, 22:01 to 05:59, it costs CLP 6,000.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 4,000
- Alerce Andino National Park
Open Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00. Last entry is at 15:00.
Chilean: adult CLP 3,900, youth 13 to 17 CLP 2,800. Foreign: adult CLP 8,200, youth CLP 4,500. Free: up to age 12, and Chileans over 60 or with a disability.
Pets are not allowed and lighting fires is prohibited. The long trails to the Fría, Triángulo and Chaiquenes lagoons and to the Rodal de Alerces are closed until further notice.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 3,900Non-residents CLP 8,200
- Juan Pablo II Historical Museum (MuPA)
Open Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00. Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 to 17:00.
More than ten rooms on the city's history, German immigration and the Monte Verde archaeological site. Avenida Diego Portales 977, opposite the bus terminal.
Closed on public holidays: 1 January, Holy Week, 1 and 21 May, 18 and 19 September, 31 October, 1 November and 25 December.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 0
- Llanquihue - Puerto Montt train
Open Monday to Friday only. From Puerto Montt, the first train leaves at 07:35 and the last at 21:20.
Stops at Alerce and Puerto Varas. The ticket includes the feeder buses. Seniors pay half and students a third. Pay by cash, card or QR.
No service on Saturdays and Sundays. One piece of luggage per person, up to 75 x 60 x 45 cm.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
- Skorpios II cruise, Chonos route
Open October to April, five nights. Leaves Puerto Montt, visits the San Rafael glacier, the Quitralco hot springs and Puerto Aguirre, and returns via Chiloé.
There is also a Nómades de Patagonia route between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales, with only two sailings in the season.
Unconfirmed at the source
Price not published
Keep exploring
See all the destinations
Puerto Varas
Germany beside a Chilean lake, with the Osorno volcano in front and the start of the Carretera Austral next door.
Castro
You cross by boat, the park is bought before you leave, and it rains all year.
Valle Las Trancas
The village on the road to the ski area and the hot springs: trails, bicycles and snowshoes depending on the season.
Nevados de Chillán
An active volcano with skiing and hot springs on its slope, where the road and the alert rule.
Maule Valley
A valley of wineries visited by reservation, spread between San Javier and San Clemente, about 22 km from Talca.
Colchagua Valley
A wine valley spread between Santa Cruz, Apalta and Lolol, where the wineries are booked ahead and without a car you reach little.
